FILE – In this Aug. 12, 2021, file photo, Notre Dame defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman watches during NCAA college football practice in South Bend, Ind. As Notre Dame linebacker Drew White ran into the Wisconsin end zone for the second Irish pick-six in two minutes, the identity of defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman’s unit had never been clearer. On full display at Soldier Field on Saturday was the lauded defense that has garnered so much praise from Freeman’s players since he was hired in January. | Michael Caterina/AP
Freeman, a former Bears draft pick, just finished his first season with the Irish
Notre Dame is working on a deal to promote defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman to head coach to replace Brian Kelly, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday night.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because nothing had been finalized, though the first piece of Notre Dame’s plan to regroup after Kelly left for LSU earlier this week had already fallen into place.
Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees informed Notre Dame to he would remain with the Fighting Irish instead of joining Kelly in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Notre Dame released a video on Twitter of Rees telling the team he was staying put.
The next step is elevating the 35-year-old Freeman.
The person told The AP that Kelly also had interest in bringing Freeman to LSU.
Kelly left Notre Dame after 12 seasons and was introduced Wednesday at LSU.
Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, who was scheduled to attend a College Football Playoff expansion meeting in Dallas, instead spent Wednesday in South Bend, Indiana, meeting with Rees and Freeman.
The 29-year-old Rees, a former Notre Dame quarterback, returned to the Irish as quarterbacks coach in 2017 and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2020.
Freeman, 35, joined Kelly’s staff this year after being hired away from Cincinnati. Landing Freeman, who was also being pursued by LSU last offseason, was considered a major victory for Kelly and Notre Dame.
Freeman is considered a rising star in college coaching and in his short time with the Irish he has played a major role in assembling a recruiting class that’s ranked No. 5 in the country by 247 Sports two weeks before signing day.
Freeman, a linebacker at Ohio State, was a fifth-round pick (154th overall) of the Bears in the 2009 NFL Draft.
